Collegium Pharmaceuticum te 's-Gravenhage, toegangspenning voor de hortus medicus voor J.A. van Ceule 1751

Editor: So, here we have a bronze medal from 1751. It’s titled *Collegium Pharmaceuticum te 's-Gravenhage, toegangspenning voor de hortus medicus voor J.A. van Ceule* and it's by an anonymous artist. I'm struck by the detailed relief on such a small object. It's really quite intricate. What do you make of it? Curator: It's fascinating how such a small object can tell us so much about the social values and institutional practices of the 18th century. We see this medal as a token of entry to the *hortus medicus*, the medicinal garden, associated with the pharmaceutical college. Editor: So, this was like, a membership card of sorts? Curator: In a way, yes. Consider how institutions like this pharmaceutical college played a critical role in standardizing medical knowledge. The *hortus medicus* wasn’t just a garden, but a visible symbol of authority, where botanical science met practical medicine. How do you think this kind of imagery projected power? Editor: I see your point. Having access to the medicinal garden shows knowledge and belonging. The imagery, like the woman and the plant, looks like knowledge is rooted in Classical ideas. It would set the pharmacists apart as credible experts. Curator: Precisely! The imagery links the profession to a prestigious past, while controlling access literally embodies social and cultural control. We see here not just art, but a strategic performance of power through symbolism and restricted entry. This medal reminds us how knowledge, institutions, and even gardens are steeped in social and political meaning. Editor: That connection hadn't occurred to me. Now, I see how art and a space such as a botanical garden become connected in such a visible symbol of the politics of the time.